prove to be? new research today from the uk, south africa, and japan are finding omicron may be less likely to cause severe disease in the lungs but at this point it is still not clear whether the variant is less severe. israel, though, not waiting around to find out. now, recommending a fourth-vaccine dose to everyone over the age of 60, along with medical workers and people with suppressed immune systems. back here, hospitals are bracing for what may feel like march of 2020, again. the president announcing emergency response teams are being deployed to help in six states arizona, wisconsin, michigan, vermont, new hampshire, and indiana where hospitalizations are up 80% from this time last month and doctors are warning that people could wait as long as 36 hours for a bed to open up. we re underwater at the moment and it feels like every day is a little bit worse than
and the disappointing news for parents of children under 5 years old. pfizer pushing back the time line. erielle reshef leads us off here in new york. reporter: tonight, just one week ahead of christmas, experts warning the country is heading for a devastating double punch. as covid cases skyrocket from coast to coast, fueled by the delta variant already. and now the omicron variant doubling every 2 to 3 days. we re really just about to xperience a viral blizzard. i think in the next 3 to 8 weeks we re gonna see millions of americans that are gonna be infected with this virus. reporter: omicron, now detected in at least 42 states, predicted to eclipse delta within weeks. new york state breaking a single day record for new infections, over 21,000. earlier this week omicron accounting for at least 13% of new cases. authorities believe it s likely much higher. in new york city, people waiting hours in testing lines snaking around entire city blocks.
and parents were hoping for. pfizer testing to see if a third dose will work. experts emphasize the vaccines are safe and effective for kids over 5. and dr. fauci pointing to the new research today, showing that five months after the two shots, it may not be enough protection for adults. saying there is virtually no neutralization to fight omicron. he said after the booster, one month after the booster, you re back in the protected range. more proof you have to keep the antibodies up. reporter: yes, they say it s the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones as we head into the holiday season. erielle, thank you. we re going to turn now to the emotional testimony in the
for this interactive show getting answers. tonight, the alarming covid across the u.s. what they re seeing in new york city. as millions across the nation travel for christmas. and dr. fauci on the new study, and why he says you need to get the booster to protect against omicron. the fast-spreading omicron variant now reported in at least 41 states. new york state reporting a pandemic record more than 21,000 new cases in 24 hours. tonight, the rockettes season now canceled. dr. fauci on the studies showing five months out after the two vaccine shots, there s virtually no degree of neutralization.
yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm. reporter: dr. anthony fauci citing new research today that shows two doses of the mrna vaccines provide significantly less protection against omicron after five months because these vaccines wane over time, which is why fauci pushed for more americans to get vaccinated if you re not, and get boosters to boost your antibody levels if you ve already been vaccinated. so the bottom line of what we ve been telling you all along, it is critical to get vaccinated. if you are vaccinated, it is critical for optimal protection to get boosted. reporter: overwhelmed hospitals already coping with the crush of delta cases, now bracing for that omicron surge. in ohio, hospitalizations approaching a record high. governor mike dewine today deploying more than 1,000 national guard troops, saying 9 out of 10 patients in the hospital with covid are unvaccinated. people are gathering together, and again, we re at a point 22 months